When I was in foster care my perception of what permanency was completely different than it is today. I went into the foster care system at 14 so it was just a few years until the subject of permanency would be relevant. I remember meetings that seemed to go on forever that would include myself, my social worker, GAL, therapists, case manager, and so many others! They talked about this term permanency. To them, it meant finding stable housing for me until I turned 18, so I took it to be that as well.

They were looking for more of the physical permanency (which even then isn't permanency if it only last until 18 or when I graduate from high school). But what I wanted was something completely different, I just didn't know that it was true permanency at the time. I am now 21 years old and a 2010 Foster Club All-Star. In training the last 2 days we have been exploring the idea of permanency and what it means to us. I never really explored the idea because I thought that I had already gotten it through the foster care system. But when permanency was described to me as something that last forever, a supportive adult who I will always be able to count on, I began to question myself. Do I have this? Is this what I want? Is this what I need? To my surprise this is what I have been wanting all along! I just didn't know. Yes! Even at 21 these things are still neccessary.

Now I have a game plan. I have a few important adults in my life and one of them in particular sticks out in my mind. When I return home I plan on sitting down and having this conversation because I now recognize that permanency is just as important for me now as it was when I was 14 and entered the foster care system. Permanency is important for you too! To know that regardless of the many changes that are happening in your life right now (or will happen), there will always be that constant, that one person who will still be standing beside you to support you. I can't think of anything that I would rather have.